The Georgia Department of Transportation is cracking down on speeders amid a spate of pedestrian accidents in Decatur, with the agency currently scrutinizing speed limits on several key streets. The targeted roads include College Avenue, Scott Boulevard, South Candler Street, and Clairemont Avenue, as reported by Atlanta News First. This move follows incidents since last November that resulted in seven pedestrians being hit near downtown Decatur, including a collision on East College Avenue, which left one person dead and three injured.
Decatur City Manager Andrea Arnold detailed the city's own safety initiatives, such as considering no turns on red and setting a 25 mile per hour speed limit, during a city commission meeting. While GDOT's speed studies are ongoing, and the speed limits will be set based on current driving habits, these municipal changes can be implemented swiftly, Arnold explained in a statement given to Decaturish. The DOT is also pondering alterations to pedestrian crosswalks, including the potential installation of a pedestrian scramble at the junction of College Avenue, and Candler Street.
Residents and advocates alike are raising their voices, seeking safer streets in the wake of tragic events. Local group Calm Decatur has begun a petition for lower speed limits and improved crosswalks, while Propel ATL's executive director, Rebecca Serna, branded the number of pedestrians struck on November 6 as "very concerning" in a comment to Decaturish. Serna stressed the need for elected officials to foster safer streets.
More than adjusting speed limits, the city is poised to introduce various measures aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety. Three automated, portable messaging signs will soon greet motorists entering Decatur, and a new pace car program will see city vehicles, including police cars, adhering to, or even dropping below, city speed limits to set a driving example. Arnold highlighted the dual benefit of the pace car program to Decaturish saying "all city-issued would have the pace car magnet or sticker, and with that comes the expectation that the vehicle will travel the city speed limit or lower, setting the pace for other vehicles on the road." The city is also upgrading its infrastructure with additional sidewalk projects and audible crosswalk signals in the pipeline.
While there's anticipation for safer streets, it's acknowledged that change isn't immediate. Arnold likened the work related to the Safe Streets for All grant to a marathon, pointing out that some policy shifts like researching no turns on red, might not need to wait for the planning process to complete. Meanwhile, the traffic landscape is poised to evolve as GDOT explores adding roundabouts along Ponce de Leon Avenue and improving lighting at key intersections as part of Decatur's ongoing commitment to pedestrian safety.
